Minutes - April 26, 2107
Certified Staff Advisory
April 26, 2017
Individuals present included: Janet Deaton, EMHS; Kyle Greene, WMS; Katie Kimrey, WMHS; Crystal Thomas, CES; Stacey Crump, SES; Katie Morris, MLA; Deborah Robins, EMS; and Phil Bailey, GRES. Absent: Anissa Gillis, MGES; Chareta Green, TES; and Amy Yarboro, PSES.
Dr. Ellis welcomed all in attendance, and thanked them on their flexibility with the meeting date change.
House Bill 13/Budget Update
Dr. Ellis gave an update on the budget and the affect House Bill 13 will have on the district. The House passed House Bill 13 around 2 months ago. Last year, when the budget was passed, the senate lowered the class size, which would require more teachers, but did not appropriate additional funds to do so. In the past, districts have had a lot of flexibility in the size of classes. The lowered class size was going to cost our district around $600,000. The Senate has now passed the bill, which mandates for next school year class size can be at 23 with an average of 20. The bill also states that the following year class size will be 21 with an average of 17, which will cost our district about $400,000. The General Assembly has proposed they will give us enhancement money to hire music, art, and PE teachers based on this new bill. We will have to begin taking steps this year to prepare for the reduction in class sizes. For instance, after this year’s cut every elementary school got a TA for 29 hours. Next year, we will not be able to do so.
The biggest budget decision in the coming years will be how to handle the K-3 class size issue.
If you have a job and are performing to standards you will have a job.
Dr. Ellis believes that the General Assembly will give a raise, however he believes they will not give any funds to support the raise.
When will cuts not be able to be done through attrition? It depends on the types of cuts. If nothing else changes we will be fine for 5 years. But there is always the chance that something new would develop.
Project Update
We are moving forward with the East Middle School wing. Plan to start construction in the summer. Weather permitting we hope the project will be complete by next year. Still on target to open the new high school in August of 2019. Bulldozers will begin moving dirt in June or July. We have completed the schematic design phase, and are beginning the design development phase. We should have actual drawings soon of the building. Construction should begin in January. At the last board meeting, the board approved the new name, mascot, and colors – Montgomery Central High School, Timberwolves, and black and gold. Things seem to be progressing well.
Questions
Is next year's academic calendar complete, or is it still subject to change? It is complete.
Many students are still not able to access the internet on their laptops at home. Teachers are unable to assign homework on the laptops because of this. Data was distributed on internet access based on school location. It’s not so much a matter of not assigning however, but being more strategic on how it’s assigned based on pulling data from the internet.
Will there be a telephone in each teacher's room (with additional lines) when the construction at East Middle is complete? Yes.
How is the new law regarding class sizes going to impact middle schools? The impact will be based on the fact of whether we have to cut TA positions at that level.
Please explain June 16th on the calendar. Teachers are confused as to the status of the day on the calendar. The board approves a 4 day work week during the summer. It will start that week, which is why Friday is skipped. You will not have to work the additional 15 mins for the last 6 weeks of this year because we had to remove a No day. Will we have No days next year? Yes.
What is the plan for positions that are paid for by the i3 Grant? There will be 2 less positions next year – 5 DLCs instead of 7, which will carry us through next year. The goal is that the capacity will be there so that we can continue with those positions into the future with 1 for elementary and 1 for middle and high school.
What can be done to prevent teachers from not having access to Powerschool when maintenance is scheduled the weekend right before grades are due on Monday? Great question! We know it’s an issue and we will continue to communicate with DPI to let them know it’s a problem.
When will the websites be updated? They have been updated.
Did the school system consider partnering with First Health to install a pool? It was a funding issue, and then an insurance issue. We were just looking at the possibility of having one. Unfortunately, it does not seem feasible at this time.
Will MCC students be on the campus taking classes at the CTE center? Yes, with the exception of anyone who is on a sex offender registry. We are currently talking with MCC about security.